1965

With Christmas and New Year behind, it was back to work, a dead-line had to be met, the Official Opening of the Airfield, in June.
Life settled back into routines, with various Sports being held for relaxation, such as Football and Rugby played on a hard baked Bullock field in 30c.
Other Sports included: Badminton, Volleyball and various athletics.
For the dedicated, there was a 9 hole Golf Course of sorts, only for the hardy.
With the Viet Kong increasing activity in the area, there was the regular "Hash House Harrier", carried out weekly.
This was "sweeping" runs around the local villages, looking for signs of the Viet Kong.
During these overt operations, troops were in full uniform and had Union Jacks all over the vehicles.
It also gave the troops time to hand out Biscuits and Sweets, as part of the "Hearts & Minds" Campaign.

January 1965
The Plant Parkwas becoming full of vehicles and was thus a hive of activity.

Plant Park Road to the Airfield

Local Village

The local populations lifestyle had changed drastically, from new water wells, with storage tank, giving water on tap, to paid work on or off the base camp.

The "western" world now offered a great deal, that the local people had never seen, tasted or dreamed of, including friendship, love and marraige.

New Years Eve

A New Years Eve Party was set-up, the funds having been raised before Christmas, via Church Collections and other individual efforts.

This was a New Year Party, that the locals had never seen before, with food that the Thais had never tasted.

The Padre is on the left, helping to sort out presents and prizes, before the Party.

Cpl Harvey took lots of photos of the events (as well as the progress of the project), his photos show the endless volunteers who helped organise and participated in the games, plus collecting and sorting the Toys, Prizes, etc. for the Party.

Various games were organised, for the Children and Adults of Ban Kok Talat.

There were Running competitions, the girls in School Uniform - White Blouses and Black Skirts.

Camp lads helped with Tug-of-War, helping the boys pull against each other.

An Obstacle was organised, the end was to crawl under a tarpaulin, which had Talcum Powder under it, finishing with eating from a bench, without using hands. A bottle of 7 UP was placed on the bench for each competitor, these children had never seen or tasted anything like this, but loved it.

Prizes were Slates, Rulers and Pencil Boxes. Teachers receiving their prizes, performed the customary Thank You, crouching at the knees, hands clasped together at the waist and bowing towards the giver.

The Cookhouse made up trays of various snacks, including "Rock Cakes" (an English favourite) - which the children were weary of at first, but once tasted, they loved them and came back for more.

Each child was presented with a packet of sweets and a Toy.

February 1965

With the "Howard Train"operation coming to an end, the Barber-green operation was about to start, tarmacing of the Airfield.

The Apron area was nearly completed, with a temporary Control Tower, mounted on the water tower.

March 1965

The Airfield Tarmac programme started.

Two Starmixers were located close to the Airfield, at the far end of the Plant Park, to reduce travel time to the Barber-green.

The Starmixers were towed into place, un-folded and set up ready to operate.

Commonly known as the "Beast".

Drums of Bitumen are stocked close-by, graded from Coarse (300 Pen), Medium (200 Pen) and Fine (100 Pen), also stocked close-by, is graded Aggregate.

The Starmix was not designed to operate for long periods of time, it was designed to repair "pot holes" and short runs of roadways.

Here it was to be used for long shifts. This kept the REME Fitters very busy, with constant breakdowns and maintenance required.

Day Shift - On Parade at the crack of dawn, still dark and a bit chilly as the lads stumble down the strip. Those on the Starmix would wait a while, whilst Lou Rex and his valiant team "kicked, hammered and battered" the Starmix, until with a rumble, a grumble a spit and a fart, it started the first mix, then the Operators moved in to take over.

The "Beast" must have been the dirtiest job at Crown, it would 'spit' hot tar over you, which was fatal to brush off, better to let it dry hard, then it would come off in the shower (plus your skin).

Always could tell the Starmix boys - their skin was covered in burn blotches!!

Meanwhile, down at the Barber-Greene, we would stretch out on the still warm tarmac, laid by the previous shift, we looked like a bunch of Kippers on a griddle, gently sizzling! (It was chilly).

Then the words "Right lads, here comes the first load", the truckie would arrive and skillfully "drop his load" into the hopper, woe betide him if he missed!!

Tippers continually transfered the molten tarmac to the Barber-green for laying, reversing up to the barber-green to fill-up the barber-green hopper, forming a continuous delivery chain.

The Shift target was 100 tons of Tarmac mixed and laid - did any shift hit the target and get the promised free beer?? Or did S/Sgt Pumbton (plumbob) sabotage the Starmix, after all he was paying for the beer???

April 1965

The Airfield Control Tower was built over the Water Tower between February & April.

RAEC - Royal Army Education Corps

At least one member of the Education Corps was present, to teach the Thai teachers how to speak English.

RAMC - Royal Army Medical Corps

The Medical Corps was very busy, treating Soldiers and Locals alike.

The main problem being the Laterite dust affecting eye sight, plus the VD situation.

A normal daily routine, was working shifts - 8am to 4pm, 4pm to 11pm, 11pm to 8pm.

Village Locals

Lt. Col. Ken Orrell visited the Local Village Headman, where they inspected the new water supply, built by the Sappers and discussed any other way the Sappers could help with the village.

REME - Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers

After a year of working in the fine Laterite dust, nearly all of the tippers had ground to a halt, many were buried where they stopped, more economical, than recvovering them to Singapore.

Tight fitting steering sockets, would become elongated by the abrasive dust, the steering would become loose and dangerous to drive.

Even the D8 engines were wearing out badly, but labour cost to re-build them on site, was cheaper than shipping in new engines.

Add to this, the 24 hour operation, especially on Plant - which constantly worked in dust clouds and engine re-building became the 'norm'.

Cpl Lou Rex (RE), received a BEM for his effort in competently re-building D8 engines and welding new "tetth" on the Starmix (most nights), as no spares were available.

Even the straight Track Pins (about 1" thick) on track-laying plant, had been worn into a figure 'S' shape. Whilst removing one of these pins, using an hydraulic press, a sudden loud 'report' was heard, followed by the 2 foot long pin flying upwards, barely grazing the side of a Sergeants head, before denting the overhead 'H' girder, supporting the roof - the Sergeant turned pale, it was his "lucky" day.

"Borrowing" became normal, removing parts from the last vehicle to enter the workshop, knowing that by the time that vehicles original fault had been repaired, the borrowed parts would have arrived.

A good example of this: Batteries were required for a repaired piece of Plant, but none were in stock, so the Fitter "borrowed" them from a Gainsborough, that Lou Rex was re-building an engine on, by the time that Lou had re-built the engine, new batteries were in stock for it.

On another angle, a Fitter called Peter Ascot, paid children to scavenge for different snakes, the children searched everywhere and eventually a collection of preserved snakes in jars, was collected. This collection was handed to the MRS, for all to identify the snake that bit them.

An enterprising Sapper, not wanting to miss the World Cup Football match, could not obtain a good signal at ground level. With many following him and the portable radio, they watched the Sapper climb up a Coles Crane jib. To the amazement of the REME Fitter (working on the Jib load sensor), the sapper climbed to the very top of the jib and perched on the top 'like a bird', shouting down a "running commentary" on the match.

LAD - Light Aid Detachment

The REME Workshops was mainly for Heavy Plant, thus the LAD spent its time with the operational road vehicles, repairing and maintaining them, in a separate area.

FAMTO Stores - First Aid Motor Transport Outfit.

The Storesman indented for parts, organised and distributed the spares to the LAD.

Stores would be initially be loaded into 2 x Thomas Bins, mounted on a Landrover & Trailer, designed to be Air Portable and used as a Receipt & Issue account.

When placed with LAD, the Stores would be reinforced with an RE Fitter or REME LAD, with RAOC Stores Section Sub-Account (10/12 Thomas Bins plus minor assemblies), for deployments or major exercises.

On Camp, the FAMTO Storesman, would collect Indented items from the QM's Department, then placing them in stock in his store. Sometimes, it meant a trip to Ubon, to collect larger items.

RAOC - Royal Army Ordance Corps

The RAOC was in-undated by indents for spares, from fuses to full wiring looms, batteries, magneto's, dynamo's, FFR Radio's, headlamps through to engines, axles.

As a general rule, the Warrant Officer would drop a list of spares required, to the radio shack, who would pass the list back to Comcen Singapore, the spares would be collected, then forwarded to Thailand by aircraft, or by LSL. Generally, stores arrived within 2/3 days of the request being received in Singapore.

The Stores became a web of 'mystery', a man could get 'lost' for hours, walking around the thousands of spare parts stored, for the entire myriad of equipment, from Plant, Vehicles, Refrigeration units, wood & metal (huts), not to forget Office supplies.

The Stores were very busy, but manned bu only a dozen dedicated storesmen, led by a Warrant Officer.

Due to variation of vehicles, stores became very diverse, trying to locate spares for "one-off's", such as the solitary Albion Clansman - 3ton - 6x4 truck.

Many newer vehicles were not in service with any other Army units.

These un-sung heros, did find the spares somehow and in doing so, kept this project moving smoothly.

25th April 1965 - Anzac Day

This is traditionally a Dawn Service, to commemorate the arrival of the first Australian and New Zealand Troops, under their own Independent Command at Gallipoli on the 30th April 1915.

At 5am on the 25th April, The Australian troop and the New Zealand troop, plus a British troop, formed up three sides of a square, facing a wooden Cross decorated with wreaths and guarded by four sentries resting on reversed arms.

The Service began in the dark, , the Cross illuminated by a Land Rover headlights.

Then, in a memorable way, the dawn broke behind the Cross.

Afterwards, was Coffee and Rum in the Cookhouse.

Anzac Hymns were: 'Rock of Ages' and 'Abide with me'.

May 1965

Another visit to the School at Talat, to present equipment, purchased from Church Collections and other Individual collections.

The School was presented with Desks, Latrines, Drinking water jars and Games equipment.

The Latrines were installed by the Sappers and no doubt, the desks were made by

A Film show was put on in the School, powered by a generator.the Sappers.

Desks being presented by Lt Col. Orrell (facing forwards with arms at his side) , with the Padre looking on, the Teachers are on the Left.

A Sapper fitting and wiring-up the School for the Film Show.

Won (called John) an Officers Batman, holding the Pony that the Padre purchased. The Padre found the Pony (he named it Mongkut after a King of Thailand) was terrified of the noisy Plant and vehicles, he found it quicker to walk.